Undergarment.



PATENTED MAY 3, 1904.

R. M. APPLETON.

UNDERGARMENT.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 12, 1902.

-M0 MODEL.

INVENTUF"- WITNESSES- Patented May 3, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT M. APPLETON, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

UNDERGARMENTL SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters-Patent No. 759,149, dated May 3, 1904. Application filei. August 13, 1902. Serial No. 119,495. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, ROBERT M. ArPLEToN, of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of lVIassachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Undergarments, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to provide an improved undergarment of the type in which there are openings at the shoulder portion on each side of the neck'opening, with shoulderflaps by which the shoulder-openings may be closed. It is customary to so construct garments of this character that the shoulder-flaps shall slightly overlap the breast portion and to provide the front edges of the flaps with non-elastic reinforcements; but such garments are in many cases extremely uncomfortable to the wearer by reason of buttons or other fastening devices which are located in a line across the breast of the garment for securing the shoulder-flaps in place.

The object of this present invention is, further, to obviate the inconvenient and uncomfortable features of the garment heretofore referred to by eliminating the employment of buttons extending across the front of the garment and also to so construct the flaps that they shall meet and overlap at the front and extend downwardly far enough so as to form a double band across the breast of the wearer and afford a greater protection to that tender portion of the body and guard the wearer against sudden cold.

On the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a tubular web of knit fabric from which my improved garment may be made. Fig. 2 represents the garment with the flaps open. Fig. 3 represents the same with the flaps buttoned. Fig. 4 represents an embodiment of the invention in which the neck is out out to permit the garment to be worn with a low-necked dress, so called. Fig. 5 represents the invention as embodied in a mans undergarment.

Preferably the undergarment is made from a tubular web, such as shown in Fig. 1. This is a knitted fabric combining a derby and a ioya 11 s 1 01 in or or 1a some pol tions of the garment may be woven more ill closely than others and may therefore fit tightly about the waist of the wearer.

In the manufacture of the garment the web (shown in Fig. 1) may be cut in two parts on the lines a a and I) b, and the sides of the web are slit from the points 0 c to the points (Z (Z. This leat'es the ends of irregular length, with one end short and the other end longer. 'The short end is utilized to extend across the breast of the wearer, whereas the long end is sub sequently cut to provide an opening for the neck and to constitute the shoulder-flaps.

Referring more particularly now to Fig. 2, it will be seen that the undergarment is provided with the strip j, which extends from one armhole across the breast to the other armhole. This is the part which is comprehended between the lines 0 cand a a or 7) o and (Z a in Fig. 1. The shoulder portion of the garment is formed of the long end of the web--to wit, that comprehended between the lines 0 c and to or a a and dd. This long portion is slit up the center in the process of manufacture of the garment, the neck-piece cut out, the shoulder portions being lapped over the breast portion f of the web and secured in place by stitches,as shown from g to it. The breast-flaps are thus attached in place. The overlapping ends of the flaps are provided with reinforcingstrips having buttonholes mm. The buttons l: are secured in the median line of the front of the garment, being sewed, preferably, in the strip f j, which of course may be reinforced to prevent the buttons from pulling away. It will be understood that the garment is suitably finished by additional knitting, sewing, or embroidery and provided, if desired, with sleeves. By virtue of this construction there is provided the strip f, which extends across the breast of the wearer, and the overlapping breast-flaps c c, which are adapted to be secured in place by the buttons Z: on the strip f. The strip f and the flaps e are expansible latorally to conform to the size and shape of the wearer and also to permit the wearer to easily put on or take off the garment. The upper end of the strip f extends across the front of the garment from a point substantially midway between the top or the upper and the lower portions of the armhole to a corresponding point on the opposite armhole. The line connecting these points forming the upper edge may be straight, as shown in Fig. 2, or curved, as shown in Fig. 4, and in the latter case it may be observed that there is but one button for securing the flaps in place. The lower edges of the flaps, however, extend straight across the garment when they are buttoned in place on a line connecting the lower ends of the armholes. This provides for the breast-flaps e e overlapping the strip f to some considerable extent, so as to protect the chest of the wearer by a double thickness of material.

1t is evident that although the garment illustrated in Figs. 2, 3, and 4c is best adapted for womens wear, yet the invention may be likewise embodied in a garment for men, as shown in Fig. 5, which is substantially the same as that described, except that the garment is not provided with a more closely woven portion to extend around the waist of the wearer.

Having thus explained the nature of the invention and described a way of constructing and using the same, although without attempting to set forth all of the forms in which it may be made or all of the modes of its use, I declare that what I claim is- A knitted undergarment having a body portion provided with a strip to extend across the breast, and with breast-flaps attached to the back portion of the garment and extending over the shoulders to the front thereof, said breast-flaps being attached at their outer edges to the breast-strip, said breast-strip being provided with one or more buttons midway between the armholes, and said flaps being provided with overlapping edges having reinforcing-bands with buttonholes therein, said breast-strip and said breastflaps being expansible laterally, the said breast-flaps having their lower edges forming a practically straight line across the garment and forming, with the breast-strip, a double protection of uniform width, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, this 12th day of August, A. D. 1902.

ROBERT M. APPLETON.

WVitnesses:

M. B. MAY, (J. (J. STEOHER. 

